Related Experiment Videos
Neonatal intracranial abscess: two cases caused by Citrobacter and a literature review
Abstract:
Intracranial abscesses are uncommon in the newborn. Observation of 2 infants and a review of the literature reveal that the offending organism was a Citrobacter in 12 of the 16 documented cases. In the Neonatal Meningitis Cooperative Study this organism was responsible for meningitis in only 4%. However, an analysis of all published cases of neonatal Citrobacter meningitis reveals a 42% incidence of intracranial abscess. Accordingly, early identification by computerized tomography is important in facilitating prompt surgical therapy.
Insights
Citrobacter is a rare cause of meningitis in newborns, but it frequently leads to intracranial abscesses. Early CT scans are crucial for timely surgical intervention in these critical cases.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Intracranial abscesses are rare in neonates.
- Citrobacter species are an uncommon cause of neonatal meningitis.
Observation:
- Review of 2 infant cases and literature.
- Identified Citrobacter as the causative agent in 12 of 16 documented intracranial abscess cases.
- Citrobacter caused only 4% of meningitis cases in the Neonatal Meningitis Cooperative Study.
Findings:
- Analysis of published neonatal Citrobacter meningitis cases shows a 42% incidence of intracranial abscess.
- This indicates a significantly higher risk of abscess formation with Citrobacter compared to other meningitis pathogens.
Implications:
- Early identification of intracranial abscesses is critical.
- Computerized tomography (CT) facilitates prompt diagnosis.
- Timely surgical therapy improves outcomes for affected neonates.